MAURITIUS, YOUR GATEWAY
TO AFRICA AND THE INDIAN OCEAN
Mauritius is the gateway to Africa and the Indian Ocean since the 1700’s. Thanks to its political and social stability, the country can pride itself on offering favourable conditions for living, doing business and investing. Mauritius has developed from a low- income agricultural economy to a stable, diversified upper- middle-income economy. With an economic growth
rate of 4% per year before the COVID 19 pandemic, the country is among the most prosperous in the Indian Ocean. It recently amended and improved its legal framework with the notable inclusion of anti-money laundering legislation to promote its economic development, while at the same time abiding by the rules of transparency, good governance and ethical standards.
MAURITIUS RANKING IN VARIOUS
INTERNATIONAL INDEX
RANKING ON DOING BUSINESS
TOPICS OUT OF 190 COUNTRIES:
- Democracy Index (2021) | 19th worldwide (1st in Africa). Mauritius is among the 21
countries in the world classified as a “Full Democracy”. – 167 countries - Economic Freedom (2022) | 9th globally (1st in Africa) – 165 countries
REASONS FOR INVESTING
IN MAURITIUS
Mauritius, an attractive business destination:
- Income tax, corporate tax and VAT capped
at a maximum rate of 15% - Easy, quick and efficient processes for starting
up new businesses - Tax-free dividends / No capital gains tax
- No requirements for local partnership
- No minimum capital requirement for the
incorporation of a company - Well-developed institutional infrastructure:
international banks, legal and accounting firms - Legal security and political stability
- No foreign exchange controls
- Highly-skilled bilingual (French and English)
local workforce - Excellent quality of life
- More than 20,000 offshore entities
- An emerging country with advanced IT and
telecommunication facilities - A minimal time-zone difference from the main
European capitals - A modern port – a hub for the region
- A scheme designed for international
businesses and foreign investors: the Smart
City Scheme - Extensive flight connectivity: served by more
than 20 major airlines
CHOOSE MAURITIUS
TO IMPLEMENT YOUR
BUSINESS
Under the Companies Act 2001, there are four different
types of companies in Mauritius:
- Private Company, which cannot offer shares to the
public, with a maximum of 25 shareholders; - One-Person Company, with only one
shareholder and sole director, a private company
by default; - Public Company, listed on the stock exchange
without a maximum number of shareholders; and - Global Business Company involved in the
offshore sector (GBL1 & GBL2)
When setting up a company, the forms of legal entities available to foreign nationals are:
Limited by shares; limited by guarantee; or limited liability for actions
and guarantees.
PROCEDURES
You should visit the Office of the Registrar of Companies
either in person or online to determine whether your
proposed company name is available or not. Each name search costs Rs 100. Once you have chosen your name, it will cost you
around Rs 3,200 to reserve the company
name.
The next step will be to fill out a form with all the details of
the proposed company to apply for a Business Registration
Card with the company’s number and the Certificate of
Incorporation. Upon approval, the Registrar of Companies
will inform the Mauritius Revenue Authority and the Ministry
of Social Security for registration purposes, as well as the
local authorities. Other competent authorities will also be
informed of the company’s incorporation, as well as of the
start date of business activities.
You are also required to:
- go to the nearest local authority with your Certificate of
Incorporation, along with a letter requesting the
production of a company seal; - pay your licence fees to the local authorities within the
first 15 days following the start of business activities
and in two equal instalments during each financial year
(before 31st of January and 31st of July).
The local authority reserves the right to impose a 50%
penalty on the whole amount which has not been paid within
the prescribed period.
The following documents must be provided on payment of
the first instalment of the licence fee (from Rs 2,500):
- Two copies of the Trade Licence
- The identity card of the applicant
- The certificate of incorporation
- The site plan for which the Building and Land Use
Permit was granted - Proof of ownership of the premises, consent of the
lessor or any contract about the premises - The premises owner’s identity card
The company then needs to be registered with the Ministry
of Social Security upon submission of the following:
- Registration Number of the employer
- Business Registration Card
- List of the directors of the company
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